Non-telephonic, wireless information presentation device

ABSTRACT

The wireless information presentation device includes a power supply, a visual display, circuitry for turning on and off the wireless information presentation device, RF wireless receiver device for receiving, from a host device, selected information including news, weather, sports, broadcast media content and advertising, switch circuitry for selecting and structure including liquid crystal materials for displaying one the selected information on the display and structure associated with the liquid crystal materials for maintaining advertising displayed on the visual display of the wireless information presentation device after a predetermined timeout period from the last actuation of the switch circuitry.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/829,928,filed April 4, 1997 and entitled TWO-WAY REMOTE CONTROL WITH ADVERTISINGDISPLAY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an annunciator display device which isalways on and which can wirelessly receive information to be displayed.Electronic information coming into the home can be displayed on a TV, orin some cases, a PC. When these devices are turned off, no informationis displayed. However, the source of information is often still present,in the form of broadcast signals or cable TV signals which can be pickedup by the annunciator of the present invention.

2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under37 CFR §§1.97-1.99.

Heretofore, various systems have been proposed for the remote display ofinformation, such as the display of prices on the edge of a shelf in asupermarket or information on the screen of a television set. Also,there have been proposed remote control devices with a visual displayfor displaying information and including credit card and smart cardreaders and built in modems or adapters for communicating with a modem.Several examples of such previously proposed remote control devices andremote display systems are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:

U.S. Pat. No. Patentee 4,888,709 Revesz et al. 4,962,466 Revesz et al.5,204,768 Tsakiris et al. 5,249,044 Von Kohorn 5,285,278 Holman5,287,181 Holman 5,355,480 Smith et al. 5,396,546 Remillard 5,404,393Remillard 5,410,326 Goldstein 5,416,535 Sato et al. 5,450,079 Dunaway5,455,570 Cook et al. 5,461,667 Remillard 5,488,423 Walkingshaw et al.5,497,185 Dufresne et al. 5,500,681 Jones 5,502,504 Marshall et al.5,504,475 Houdou et al. 5,523,794 Mankovitz et al. 5,532,689 Bueno5,537,107 Furnado 5,537,463 Escobosa et al. 5,539,393 Barfod 5,539,479Bertram 5,546,316 Buckley et al. 5,552,837 Mankovitz 5,566,353 Cho etal. 5,583,560 Florin et al. 5,594,509 Florin et al. 5,603,078 Hendersonet al. 5,576,768 Gomikawa 5,604,923 Wilkus PCT Patent PublicationApplicant WO 93/12612 Yuen at al. WO 93/19427 Singer st al. WO 94/15417Minimetrics Limited WO 95/32583 TV Guide On Screen WO 95/01056 AppleComputer, Inc. WO 95/01057 Apple Computer, Inc. WO 95/01058 AppleComputer, Inc. WO 95/01059 Apple Computer, Inc.

The Tsakiris et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,768 discloses a remotecontrolled electronic presentation system including a wireless remotecontrol which includes an infrared receiver and an infrared transmitterfor communicating with a remote transceiver coupled to a computer.

The Smith et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,480 discloses an interactiveterminal which is coupled via two-way RF communication to a centrallocation designated as the system manager. A key pad which may bedirectly coupled via an infrared remote control transmission linkreceiver is actuated to cause a prompting screen to be displayed on atelevision set.

The Remillard U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,396,546, 5,404,393 and 5,461,667 aredirected to an electronic device and method for accessing remoteelectronic facilities and displaying information retrieved from theremote electronic facility on a conventional television set including ahost computer connected to a television set and to a telephone line. Anelectronic device interface is coupled between the television set andthe host computer and facilitates display of retrieved data on thetelevision set under the operation of a remote key pad control havingkeys for initiating the sending of menu selection signals to theelectronic device interface.

The Goldstein U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,326 discloses a programmable remotecontrol device for interacting with a plurality of remotely controlleddevices, including an optical input, an IR input and an audio input fortransferring embedded data in a television broadcast to the remotecontrol device. The remote control has an FM bi-directionalcommunication link to a telephone interface which can be radio frequencycoupled to a television set or to a telephone line or a power line. Theremote control has a visual display and advertising can be displayed onthe visual display.

The Dunaway U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,079 discloses a multimodal hand-heldremote control device including an IR transmitter and an IR or opticalreceiver and/or RS 232 interface for transmitting data to and receivingdata from a controlled multimedia or host.

The Cook et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,550 discloses a method and apparatusfor communication of program data via a remote control unit including aremote control having an RF receiver and an RF transmitter forcommunicating with a digital music tuner.

The Marshall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,504 discloses a video mixprogram guide stored in a computer and having an infrared radiofrequency receiver. A viewer sends commands to the receiver to controloperation of the computer by use of an infrared or radio frequencyremote control transmitter.

The Apple Computer, Inc. PCT Patent Publication Nos. WO 95/01057, WO95/01056, WO 95/01058 and WO 95/01059 disclose an interactiveaudio-visual (AV) transceiver coupled to a television set and/or atelephone cable. A remote control device is provided for communicationwith the AV transceiver to interactively manage selection of program andservice sources. The remote control device sends and receives wireless(IR) control signals to and from an IR control unit and the audio-visualtransceiver.

The Minimetrics Limited PCT Patent Publication No. WO 94/15417 disclosesa combined remote.control and data logging unit for use as a marketresearch tool and includes a transceiver comprising an infrared inputand an infrared output.

Also, devices for releasably mounting an article to a planar surface,such as a wall, have been proposed. See for example U.S. Pat. No.4,287,676 to Weinhaus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a low-costannunciator display device, or simply annunciator, capable of wirelessly(via IR or RF) receiving information to be displayed. The advantage isthat, in contrast to a television or a PC, the display on theannunciator can always be on. The annunciator can act as a billboard,touting pay-per-view events, products, services, coupon offers or anyother advertising, as well as carrying information such as sports, news,finance, traffic, TV guide, gaming, shopping, and features. With theadded ability to wirelessly send information to a host device,interactive or transactional applications are possible.

The advertising message on the annunciator is an information payload, inthe sense that an advertiser can be charged for time on theannunciator's screen.

When the annunciator is used in conjunction with interactiveapplications running on a settop box, the TV itself, or a computer, itis important that the interactive advertising offers appear duringcommercial program breaks and not extend into the program proper. Inthis case, the annunciator can extend the time available to the user torespond to interactive offers by “trailing” the offer to theannunciator's screen after the interactive ad has disappeared from theTV (or PC) screen and regular programming has resumed.

Many systems which deliver information are two-way, meaning thatinformation originating from the user can be read by or delivered to acentral “head end.” Such systems can allow transactions by the user,such as responses to advertising offers, merely by pressing a button onthe annunciator, thus bypassing the TV or PC as a display device.

In the case where the delivery medium for advertising to the annunciatoris not two-way, “bypass” structure can be provided for return signals toa central computer. For instance, a low-cost radio transmitter in theannunciator can send data to an autodialer modem connected to thetelephone line. User responses to advertising offers can then be sent bytelephone to a central computer.

Cable, satellite, or broadcast TV are the normal means for transportinginformation to the annunciator, using receiving circuitry in the settopbox or the TV itself, along with an IR or RF wireless link to theannunciator. However, bypass of the cable, satellite, or broadcast TVdownstream link to the annunciator is also possible, using a pagingnetwork, FM SCA data on a radio station, a modem with a wireless link tothe annunciator, or a wireless link to a computer which is in turnconnected to a remote network such-as the Internet.

The fact that the display on the annunciator can always be active andreadable, whether or not the TV or PC are turned on, is an importantextension of the exposure of the user to advertising offers.

To accommodate the narrow bandwidth usually available on the wirelesslink between the sending device and the annunciator, images can becompressed before being sent to the annunciator. Either the bitmappedimages can be compressed using any one of several well-known compressionalgorithms, such as JPEG, or drawing commands can be sent to a GDI(graphics device interface) running in the annunciator.

By allowing the annunciator to receive executable code as well as staticimages, the annunciator can display animated graphics, run interactivesessions with the user, or upgrade its own software to enhance itsusefulness.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided anannunciator including a visual display, wireless receiving circuitry forreceiving, from a host device, data including selected information to bedisplayed, and software and/or hardware for maintaining the selectedinformation displayed on the visual display of the annunciator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wall mountable annunciator display deviceconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the wall mountable annunciatordisplay device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the circuitry in the wall mountableannunciator display device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operations performed when one of the keyson the annunciator device is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the displays that are shown on the visualdisplay when either the ARROW UP key is pressed or the ARROW DN key ispressed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the steps that are performed and the displaysthat appear on the visual display when the OK key is pressed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the steps that are performed to set thedisplay device for showing the programming on a specific channel bypressing the CH key and one of the ARROW keys until the selected channelappears on the display.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the routine that is followed by depressing theCH key and the OK key at the same time in order to enter a code numbersuch as a telephone number or credit card number.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a display on the visual display of televisionprogramming for a one half hour period.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to FIG. 1 in greater detail, there is illustrated thereinan annunciator 10 constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention. The annunciator 10 includes, on a top panel 12 thereof, anLCD visual display 14, and a keyboard 15 comprising a CH (channel) key16, an ARROW UP key 18, an ARROW DN key 20, and an OK/SEND key 22.

It is to be noted that more or fewer buttons or keys can be provided onthe keyboard 15. However, experience has shown that the fewer buttons orkeys the better, making the annunciator 10 simpler to operate. One keythat could be added is an ON/OFF key.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a housing 24 of the annunciator 10shown in FIG. 1 and shows that the annunciator housing 24 includes anopen area for receiving a circuit board 26 and a flat battery 28. Thevisual display screen 14 can be touch sensitive, if desired, and isconnected as shown to the circuit board 26.

Although a generally rectangular housing 24 is shown in FIG. 1, it is tobe understood that the annunciator can have any shape desired, such as,for example, a circular shape so that the annunciator can look like andserve as a beverage coaster.

An important feature of the annunciator of the present invention is theprovision of mounting structure 29 on the back or underside of thehousing 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting structure is amagnet, much like a “refrigerator magnet”.

It will be understood, however that other mounting structures 29 can beused, such as:

a suction cup for attaching the annunciator 10 to an impervious surface;

an adhesive for attaching the annunciator 10 to a surface; hook and loopmaterial of the type sold under the trademark VELCRO fixed to a surfaceof the annunciator 10 and mating hook and loop material fixed to asurface on which the annunciator 10 is to be mounted;

a pin for attaching the annunciator 10 to a suitable material such asclothing; and,

a chain, a string, a ribbon, a cord or other flexible structure forattaching or hanging the annunciator 10 to or from another object or aperson.

The annunciator 10 can have, alternatively, other structure forsupporting the annunciator 10 on a generally horizontal surface with thevisual display 14 facing laterally, much like a picture in a stand uppicture frame, eg a fold out structure.

Referring now to FIG. 3, circuitry 30 for the annunciator 10 that ismounted on the circuit board 26 in the housing 24 includes amicroprocessor 32 connected to the keyboard 15, to an IR receiver 34and, if desired, to an IR transmitter 35 and/or to an RF receiver 36and, if desired, to an RF transmitter 37. The battery 28 is connected toa power conditioning circuit 38 coupled to the various componentsneeding power. A ROM/RAM 40 is coupled to a bus 42 connected to themicroprocessor 32.

If desired, an EEPROM 44 also can be coupled to the microprocessor 32.An LCD driver circuit 46 is coupled between the bus 42 and the LCDvisual display 14.

If desired, a sound synthesizing chip 48 can be coupled to themicroprocessor 32 and to a speaker 50.

Another modification is to provide a card reader device 52 coupled tothe microprocessor for reading a credit card and/or smart card.

Further, if desired, a motion detect circuit 54 can be coupled to themicroprocessor 32, as shown.

In the operation of the annunciator 10, a signal is received either bythe IR receiver 34 or the RF receiver 36 and such signal containsselected information, typically including an advertisement. Thisadvertisement is placed on the visual display 14 by the software andhardware in the annunciator 10 and is maintained on the display 14unless a user of the annunciator 10 presses a key to obtain a display ofother information or to send information.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which is a flow chart of the basic operatingroutine for the annunciator 10, it will be noted that, once a key isdepressed, a determination is made if it is an ARROW UP key 18, in whichcase the program in the ROM/RAM 40 or EEPROM 44 goes to subroutine Ashown in FIG. 5. If the key was the ARROW DN key 20, then the programgoes to subroutine B, which is the other end of the routine shown inFIG. 5.

If the key was the OK key 22, then the program goes to subroutine Cshown in FIG. 6.

If the key pressed was the CH (channel) key, then the program goes tosubroutine D shown in FIG. 7.

Finally, if two keys are pressed simultaneously, the OK key 22 and theCH key 16, then the program goes to subroutine E shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the ARROW UP key 18, or the ARROW DN key 20 ispressed, the annunciator 10 will cycle through a series of differentinformation displays. This cycling can be automatic or can be caused byrepeated key presses of the ARROW UP key 18 or the ARROW DN key 20.

Typically, as shown, the first press of the ARROW UP key 18 will cause adisplay of the date and time. Then, the next display will be of weatherand temperature. The succeeding display is of traffic conditions. Next,a financial report is displayed, followed by a sports score report andfinally a TV programming display for a particular channel or time periodas shown in FIG. 9. Of course, other information, such as a game, can bedisplayed on the visual display 14.

If the OK key 22 is pressed, then the program goes into subroutine Cshown in FIG. 6. Assuming that an identifying code is present or hasbeen programmed into the annunciator 10, such code is now transmitted.The code can be a telephone number or a credit card number.

As shown in FIG. 6, pressing of the OK key 22 causes the annunciator 10to transmit two signals containing certain information, namely theadvertisement on the visual display 14 and the identifying code of theuser. After these two signals are sent, there is a time out period of afew seconds to few minutes, after which the program returns theadvertisement to the visual display 14.

If the CH key 16 is pressed after a user has gone to the TV programmingposition in the subroutine shown in FIG. 5, a channel number will firstappear on the display. Then, if the user wishes to change the channelnumber, he or she will press the ARROW UP key 18 or the ARROW DN key 20reach channel X+N or X−N. Once the desired channel is reached, thechannel number will appear on the display for a time out period of a fewseconds to a few minutes and then will return to a display of theadvertisement.

Alternatively, the annunciator 10 can be programmed to display theprogramming on a number or all the channels over a short time period,e.g., one half hour, as shown in FIG. 9. Here, the annunciator 10 willscroll through the programming for the next one half hour period.

If the annunciator 10 does not come programmed with an identifying code,such as a telephone number or a credit card number, and the annunciator10 is configured to transmit a telephone number as an identifying numberfor the purchaser, the program will go to subroutine E shown in FIG. 8.Then, when the CH key 16 and the OK key 22 are pressed at the same time,a message will appear on the visual display 14 explaining how to enterthe user's telephone number. In this respect, a message will bedisplayed saying:

“To enter your 10 digit tel. no. first press CH key. Then press ARROW UPkey or ARROW DN key. Next press the OK key. Repeat the above steps foreach no. until all 10 numbers are entered.”

After all 10 numbers are entered, they are stored in the RAM/ROM 40 ofthe circuit 30, shown in FIG. 2. Next, after a time out period of a fewseconds to a few minutes, the display screen 14 will return to thedisplay of the advertisement.

According to the teachings of the present invention, the annunciator 10is programmed so that an advertisement is displayed on the screen 14when the annunciator 10 is not being used or is otherwise in a quiescentstate.

It is to be understood that an important feature of the presentinvention is the “restore screen after timeout sequence” which is shownat the end of each of the subroutines in FIGS. 5-8.

If the batteries are low, a subroutine can be provided to cause theannunciator to go through a “low battery sequence” which “pops up” a lowbattery message for three seconds.

The annunciator 10 can be constructed, arranged and programmed to haveor provide a number of features. For example, the software can maintaina display of selected information on the visual display even when theannunciator 10 is in a quiescent state or turned off.

It will be understood that the host device with which the annunciator 10communicates, either by IR (34, 35 ) or by RF (36, 37 ) to receive ortransmit information, can be a cable decoder box, a satellite decoderbox, a telephone company decoder box, a television set, a computer, or amodem.

The wireless RF transmitting circuitry 36 and receiving circuitry 37 canbe constructed and arranged to receive RF data from a long rangetransmitting device such as a paging network, a FM/SCA, a cellularphone, digital communication systems such as PCS, PDM, CDM or other RFtransmitting device.

If desired, the annunciator 10 can be constructed and arranged toexchange information with a modem, such as a wired modem or a wirelessmodem and the intelligence for operating the modem can be in theannunciator 10. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,463 to Escobosa and Darbee.

The memory, RAM/ROM 40, of the annunciator 10 can include a buffermemory capable of storing information for being displayed under commandfrom a realtime clock in the annunciator 10 and the annunciator 10 caninclude software and or hardware for querying the host device fordate/time information.

The visual display 14 can be bistable, thereby requiring no refreshbuffer and requiring no power to maintain an image on the visual display14.

The information received from the host device can be in compressed form,can be in the form of drawing commands, such that the software includesinstructions for executing the drawing commands by drawing an image onthe visual display 14 and/or can be a subset of an electronic programguide for display on the visual display 14 of the annunciator 10.

The software for detecting a low-battery condition can includeinstructions for displaying an advertisement to replace the batterieswith a specific brand of battery.

If desired, back-lighting can be provide for illuminating the visualdisplay 14. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,367 to Park.

Also, if desired, the annunciator 10 can include circuitry 48, 50 forproducing sound.

Further, the annunciator 10 can include a reader 52 and associatedcircuitry for reading the magnetic stripe on a credit card or forreading or interfacing with a smart card containing a computer chip. SeeU.S. Pat. No. 5,603,078 to Henderson et al. or U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,689to Bueno.

The motion detect circuit 54 can be used to place the annunciator 10 ina given state when it is picked up by a user.

The operating software for the annunciator 10 can be programmed to cyclea buffer memory in the ROM/RAM 40 to display on the visual display 14multiple categories of information.

The IR or optical receiving circuit 34 can be constructed to receivelight signals from a TV screen (VEIL technology) or other form offlashing from the TV screen using visible light (TIMEX technology).

The annunciator 10 can including pointing device circuitry for moving acursor on the visual display 14 or a host display. See U.S. Ser. No.08/605,546 for: SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS POINTER CONTROL.

The visual display 14 can include a touch-sensitive display screen ortouch sensitive pads/keys on the annunciator 10. See Goldstein U.S. Pat.No. 5,410,326.

An important feature of the annunciator 10 disclosed herein is itsability to keep an advertisement on the display 10 and in front of auser. An ancillary feature is the ability of the annunciator 10 not onlyto display the advertisement, but also to have an input, such as certainkeys on the keyboard for enabling a user to respond to a displayedadvertising offer via the wireless, IR or Rf communications link usingthe certain keys as described above and set forth in FIG. 6.

The received, and perhaps displayed, information can comprise:advertising formatted the same way as a banner on a page on the worldwide web; a “trailer” from an advertisement appearing on a host device,thus giving the user more time to respond to an offer in theadvertisement; games which can be played on the annunciator 10; codesfor upgrading the annunciator 10; instructions for setting up theannunciator 10; a user guide and/or context-sensitive help for displayon the visual display 14 of the annunciator 10; and, executable code tobe run on the annunciator 10.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the annunciator10 with advertising display of the present invention has a number ofadvantages, some of which have been described above and others of whichare inherent in the invention. Also it will be understood thatmodifications can be made to the annunciator described above withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, thescope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by theaccompanying claims.

We claim:
 1. A wireless information presentation device including apower supply, a visual display, means for turning on and turning offsaid wireless information presentation device, RF wireless receivermeans for receiving, from a host device, selected information includingnews, weather, sports, broadcast media content and advertising; switchmeans for selecting and displaying means, including liquid crystalmaterials, for displaying one of said selected information on saiddisplay; means for detecting and displaying on the visual display alow-battery condition together with an advertisement for a particularbrand of battery; and maintaining means associated with said liquidcrystal materials for maintaining advertising displayed on said visualdisplay of said wireless information presentation device after a timeoutperiod from the last actuation of said switch means.
 2. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 wherein the host device is acable decoder box.
 3. The wireless information presentation device ofclaim 1 wherein the host device is a satellite decoder box.
 4. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein the hostdevice is a telephone company decoder box.
 5. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 1 wherein the host device is a televisionset.
 6. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1 whereinthe host device is a computer.
 7. The wireless information presentationdevice of claim 1 including wireless transmitting means for sendinginformation to the host device.
 8. The wireless information presentationdevice of claim 7 wherein said RF wireless receiving means and said RFwireless transmitting means are constructed and arranged to exchangeinformation with a wireless modem.
 9. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 8 wherein said wireless informationpresentation device has intelligence for operating said modem.
 10. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 7 wherein some of theinformation comprises an advertising offer, and said wirelessinformation presentation device includes input means for enabling a userto responding to said advertising offer via said RF wirelesstransmitting means using said input means.
 11. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 7 including means for moving a cursor on ahost display.
 12. The wireless information presentation device of claim7 including a touch-sensitive display screen.
 13. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 7 wherein some of theinformation comprises an advertising offer, and said wirelessinformation presentation device includes means for responding to theadvertising offer using said wireless information presentation device.14. The wireless information presentation device of claim 7 includingmeans for synchronizing information displayed on said visual display ofsaid wireless information presentation device with information beingdisplayed on a host device and/or other remote display(s).
 15. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 14 whereinsynchronization is achieved by said wireless information presentationdevice sending cursor position data to a host device.
 16. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 including means for receivingdate/time information from the host device.
 17. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 1 including a buffer memory capable ofstoring information for being displayed under command from a realtimeclock in said wireless information presentation device.
 18. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 wherein the informationreceived from the host device is in compressed form.
 19. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 including means for producingsound.
 20. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1including motion detection means for placing said wireless informationpresentation device in a given state when it is picked up by a user. 21.The wireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein saidvisual display includes a touch-sensitive display screen.
 22. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein some of theinformation comprises a “trailer” from an advertisement appearing on ahost device, thus giving the user more time to respond to an offer inthe advertisement.
 23. The wireless information presentation device ofclaim 1 wherein some of the information comprises games which can beplayed on said wireless information presentation device.
 24. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein the selectedinformation displayed includes an advertisement.
 25. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 being programmed to cycle abuffer memory in a ROM/RAM circuit to display on the visual displaymultiple categories of information.
 26. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 1 wherein said wireless means for receivingdata is constructed and arranged to receive IR data or visible lightdata from an IR transmitter or in a visible light signal from a TVscreen or other flashing light source.
 27. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 1 wherein said wireless receiving meansincludes means for receiving data via radio signals sent from shortrange from one of a wireless modem, a settop box, a TV, or a computer.28. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein saidRF wireless receiving means includes means for receiving data viainfrared signals sent from one of a wireless modem, a settop box, a TV,or a computer.
 29. The wireless information presentation device of claim1 including means for receiving image data in the form of drawingcommands and means for executing the drawing commands by drawing animage on said visual display.
 30. The wireless information presentationdevice of claim 1 wherein some of the information received from a hostdevice comprises a subset of an electronic program guide to be displayedon the wireless information presentation device and being limited to aselection of a channel, or a limited span of time, or a specific area ofinterest.
 31. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1including means for reading the magnetic stripe on a credit card. 32.The wireless information presentation device of claim 1 including apointing means for moving a cursor on said visual display.
 33. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 1 including atouch-sensitive display screen.
 34. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 1 wherein some of the information comprisesexecutable code to be run on said wireless information presentationdevice.
 35. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1wherein some of the information includes an interactive application forbeing run on the wireless information presentation device for setting uphe wireless information presentation device.
 36. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 1 wherein some of the receivedinformation include data for displaying a user guide and/orcontext-sensitive help on the wireless information presentation device.37. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1 includingmeans for releasably mounting said wireless information presentationdevice to an object, person or surface.
 38. The wireless informationpresentation device of claim 37 wherein said mounting means is a magnetfor attaching said wireless information presentation device to a metalsurface.
 39. The wireless information presentation device of claim 37wherein said mounting means is a suction cup for attaching said wirelessinformation presentation device to an impervious surface.
 40. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 37 wherein saidmounting means include an adhesive for attaching said wirelessinformation presentation device to a surface.
 41. The wirelessinformation presentation device of claim 37 wherein said mounting meansinclude hook and loop material fixed to a surface of said wirelessinformation presentation device and mating hook and loop material fixedto a surface on which said wireless information presentation device isto be mounted.
 42. The wireless information presentation device of claim37 wherein said mounting means include a pin for attaching said wirelessinformation presentation device to a suitable piece of material, such asclothing.
 43. The wireless information presentation device of claim 37wherein said mounting means is selected from the class consisting of achain, a string, a ribbon, or other flexible means for attaching saidwireless information presentation device to another object or to aperson.
 44. The wireless information presentation device of claim 1including means for supporting said wireless information presentationdevice on a generally horizontal surface with said visual display facinglaterally, much like a picture in a stand up picture frame.
 45. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 44 wherein said meansfor supporting said wireless information presentation device on agenerally horizontal surface includes fold out structure which folds outfrom the back of said wireless information presentation display.
 46. Thewireless information presentation device of claim 1 wherein saidinformation presentation device is configured to look like and act as abeverage coaster.
 47. The wireless information presentation device ofclaim 1 wherein said maintaining means associated with said liquidcrystal materials is constructed and arranged to maintain advertising onsaid display after said wireless information device is turned off.